Nigerian creatives have called for stronger industry structures, better funding and skills development to transform the country’s abundant creative talent into sustainable businesses and promote Nigerian stories globally.
The call was made at the QEDNG Creative Powerhouse Summit 2.0 in Lagos, themed “Creativity, Culture and Nigeria’s Next Chapter.” Convener Olumide Iyanda said many talented Nigerians had struggled to sustain their careers because of weak institutional and structural support.
National Coordinator of Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises (iDICE), Ife Adebayo, identified access to capital, skills and industry structures as major barriers. He said iDICE had established a $45 million debt fund, $65 million Islamic finance facility and equity options aimed at attracting more private and international investment into the creative sector.
Adebayo also urged creatives to tell Nigerian stories more effectively, noting that film, music, fashion, comedy and animation could shape global perceptions of the country. Other speakers stressed that international recognition should complement, rather than replace, strong local platforms capable of sustaining creative success.
Filmmaker Yibo Koko said festivals and cultural events could become major economic assets if properly structured, marketed and monetised, while publisher Anwuli Ojogwu called for publishing to be included more deliberately in creative-sector funding.
Creatives including Joke Silva, KieKie and Efe Omorogbe also highlighted challenges such as piracy, weak copyright protection, poor distribution and fragmented management. They urged stronger public-private partnerships and investment in infrastructure, education, intellectual-property protection and export pathways to ensure Nigeria’s creative economy achieves sustainable global growth.
Leave a comment